I'm finally building a B for my CRX that I run autox with. It's an 81mm PR3 GSR (~11.5:1 CR), .005" taken off the head, Blox IM, 64mm TB, a bit of headwork, Supertech springs, some ITR/CTR cams or other mild cams after break-in, and 2.5" exhaust. I need a header that will give me decent ground clearance since it's in a CRX chassis. I also want something that's not going to kill my midrange since this build is pretty strictly for autox. I've got the Innovate B-swap crossmember so clearance there is no issue, nor are PS or AC (obviously lol).

That said, this is still a fairly budget build so it's going to have to be under $400. I found this test in my search: https://honda-tech.com/forums/all-motor-naturally-aspirated-44/budget-header-showdown-replica-headers-vs-skunk2-alpha-1-8l-dyno-test-3005484/. The motor came with one of those "JDM DC Sports style" headers and it was very low hanging on the CRX I bought the motor out of.

I had been thinking of an SMSP rep because of the excellent clearance but it seems that it doesn't make much power over an ITR unit. The two that stood out to me were the Toda and RMF narrow reps. The Toda rep has an odd hump in the midrange but it is for the positive so it is not a bad thing, and it made a bit more on top end than the RMF.

Any thoughts or input on one of those two is more than welcome. Heck, if there's a better option out there for the price, let me know. This is my first foray into building a B; I've been building and tuning SOHC's for years so my knowledge here is slightly limited.

 

jdm itr manifold... no ****. I know someone will bash me,, but I have great success with a 4-1 itr ebay knock off and the clearance is pretty damn good. speed bumps are the only thing that has caused any damage. im lowered 1.5 inches in my db8

 

What's your setup man? If it's the motor from your sig I like those numbers, kinda what I'm shooting for (180whp+/135+wtq)

Well mine's pretty low, not sure how much exactly since I don't adjust them for height except to set the car up how for handling purposes. I don't have any recent pics from the front with it sitting where it is now, but this is when I first put the car together a year ago, it may be 1/4" higher now, maaaaybe 1/2" but I doubt it. Crossmember is lowest thing on the car, aside from the flaps.

 

Toda style header are pretty good mid range power. I just put toda style header on and just waiting to get a re-tune clean up and see if power changes.

 

jdm 96+ b18c gsr 10:6:1 comp(factory)
Skunk2 Proseries IM
Omni power 68mm TB
STOCK PORTS( Nothing port matched )
Oldschool AEM CAI
AEM Fuel rail and AEM FPR
STOCK injectors
Edelbrock 4730 camshafts
Skunk2 Proseries cam gears
Brian Crower valvetrain
STOCK valves
STOCK bottom end
ebay ITR 4-1 header with 2.5'' collector
Magnaflow 2.5'' high flow cat
yonaka motorsports N1 style 2.25'' ID exhaust
A/c delete
STOCK flywheel
Tuned on Crome Gold on 87 octane

Here is a graph if you would like to look at it
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...96888008_n.jpg

 

Very nice simple build man! Those cams are cheap too and make good torque apparently. I won't be using that big of a TB (actually bought that exact TB cheap but letting a friend use it for the B20V we're building him). You're setup gives me hope! I am either going to be on 93 or E85 if I have enough injector. That ITR replica looks just like what I've got already that I know hangs too low for my taste.

Thanks for the first hand input on it man. Does yours fit pretty tight to the block?

 

fit pretty tight on up.

 

Good to hear, the test said it was decent clearance as well. Ebay pics look like it hugs the pan pretty close.

 

I have the PLM toda rep on my 90 hatchback. Its kinda low and I do not have any clearance issues, and the powerband feels good to me. Its on a stock high compression b20 for now.

 

I had 191 hp on churches dynapak

95 gsr maxbore tb
Aem cai
Skunk stage 1 cams
Dc 4-1 carb legal header
Stock cat
Greddy evo exhaust
Hondata s100 tuned

 

My 98 Civic with Ls Vtec is lowered 1.8" with Eibach springs and I am running an Ebay DC 4-2-1 knock off. It has great ground clearance it never hits, it fit very well and made good power. I went with a 4-2-1 for the mid range because my Civic is a DD and I want that low end and clearance. My stock Ls Vtec with B16 head and cams made 161whp and 127lbft with a 2.5 inch CAI (too small), header mentioned and custom 2.5" cat back with stock B16 cat. Another very good header choice for what you are looking for is a Hytech rep header great mid range and top end ans well as ground clearance. Most 4-1 or ITR style headers are not that great for mid range or ground clearance due to the merge collector and 2 extra header pipes compared to the 4-2-1 or Tri-Y style. Toda or Mugen Rep headers are very good as well. The Hytech Tri-Y will give you the most power though IME.

 

Could you take some pics of the car for me, like the front and underneath? I'd very much appreciate it because I'm pretty confident that's the same header I'm going to run. How's the build quality, haven't had any cracks or anything?

Those are good numbers too! I'm gonna send my TB to maxbore as well when it comes off my Edlebrock mani for my SOHC.

Yeah, I know the general principle is that the 4-2-1 will make a bit better mid-range which was why I looked at the SMSP rep (and clearance) but it didn't make the #'s I wanted in that test and my setup won't be too dissimilar to the engine used in that build except for a touch more CR and a massaged GSR head instead of the ITR head.

 

the 4-2-1 setup doesnt mean anything and neither does a 4-1.. Its a matter of how your motor will benefit from a total package. A a primarily stock setup, big tube 4-2-1's dont perform well on smaller motors. believe it or not, the two top mid range headers on 1800-1900 cc setups have been the toda replica.. itr 4-1 and the rmf replica.. the hytech rep should the same as the rmf, just made 1 -2 hp peak.. I would go with th ermf.. better clearance over the 4-1 itr but still being a 4-1.. If I wasnt going turbo, I would totally be getting an rmf.. cheers the smsp didnt do anything over the itr 4-1 btw

 

I got PLM Toda rep header. Best header I've ever had for both power and ground clearance.

 

I will get some pics for you when I get home from work today. The build quality is pretty good, I have not had any cracks or anything yet. I do not drive that car much it sits in the garage, and probably only has 700 miles on it since I put that header on there.

 

Bump for pics! Hoping to get this thing back from the machine shop tomorrow and assemble it this weekend.

 

I ran the stock jdm 4-2-1 manifold which is cast at the top, A 4-1 JDM type R knock off, and the RMF narrow replica on a bone stock B18CR.

Out of a hundred or so passes the original 4-2-1 manifold gave the most clearance and the best track times. No tuning was done it was all stock.

 

+1 for PLM Toda replica

 

toda rep header

 

Funny how the Toda kinda fulls under the 4-2-1 category but I guess it is kind of a tri y style as well. If I was not planning on boosting I would have gone with a tri y style header.

 

 

I can get different angles for you if you want them.

I'm running the innovative traction bar.

 

Is that their traction bar or B-swap replacement crossmember?

 

Its the traction bar which sits up higher than the crossmember replacement.

 

Both of those thoughts is what I was thinking which is great. If it's the same height or higher than my crossmember I'll be ok. I've actually bottomed out on course on my crossmember!